Automatic cigarette dispenser and lighter



March 5, 1935. A. J. EILER 1,993,504

' AUTOMATIC CIGARETTE DISPENSER AND LIGHTER Filed Aug. 51, 1953' 4 sheets-sheet 1 l l l iii L@ D f4 f77/vena?" .Dnwzy 22M Jig h/EAornegs March 5, 1935. l A. lJ. EILER 1,993,504

AUTOMATIC CIGARETTE DISPENSER AND LIGHTER Filed Aug. 51, 1953 4 sheets-sheet 2 y' 71/5 AZZOrN/eys March 5, 1935. A. J. Elu-:R 1,993,504

AUTOMATIC CIGARETTE DISPENSER AND LIGHTER Filed Aug. 5l, 1933 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 March 5, 1935. v LA. J. EILER 1,993,504

AUTOMATIC CIGARETTE DIsPENsER AND LIGHTER Filed Aug. 51, 1935 4 sheets-sheet 4 Patented Mar. 5, 1935 UNITED STATES AUTOMATIC CIGARETTE DISPENSER AND LIG HTER

Anthony J. Euer, nin city, Minn.

Application August 31, 1933,1Serial No. 687,619

7 Claims.

This invention relates to a device for automatically lighting and dispensing cigarettes, cigars, and the like.

It is an object of my invention to provide a comparatively simple and highly efficient machine which will automatically eject a cigarette or the like from a magazine and immediately thereafter apply a source of suction to one end of the cigarette and. apply to the other end an incandescent heating element.

It is a further object to provide a device of the class described wherein the cigarette, cigar vor the like is held in such manner that it may be quickly and easily removed from the machine 1 5 for smoking and wherein the operation of the A heating element is only maintained during a portion of the cycle of operation, thus economizing in the use of electrical current. y

More specifically, my invention provides a ma- 20 chine wherein a cigarette or cigar is rst ejected from a magazine and properly held for alignment with the heating element and suction connection and wherein 'the cigarette is thereafter fitted into a suction socket and the heating unit applied to the opposite end thereof and-the suction applied and whereafter the heating unit is de-energized and the then lighted cigarette moved to a position convenient for removal from the device.

Another object is the provision of a device of the class described wherein all of the moving parts recited in the foregoing paragraph are actuated and timed by the revolution and/or oscillation of a single actuating shaft.

In the form of the invention disclosed the said shaft is revolved in one direction manually and is so connected with a spring or the equivalent as to tension the spring in said manual revolution, whereafter the shaft is revolved in the opposite direction by the action of the spring to complete the operating cycle.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be more fully set forth in the following description made in connection with 45 the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views, and in which:-

Fig. 1 is a plan view of an embodiment of the invention-showing the various Working mechanisms in idle or non-operative positions;

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the positions of the working mechanisms as they appear after the crank handle has been manually turned to extreme position and at the point where the (ci. 3x2-ss) cigarette is properly engaged for lighting and suction is to be applied; v

Fig. 3 is a cross section taken approximately on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1 showing the operating mechanism for the ejector pump and air suction socket;

Fig. 4 is a cross section taken substantially on the line 4 4 of Fig. l;

Fig. 5 is a front elevation of the device with the upper portion of the mechanism broken away;

Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view taken substantially along the line 6 6 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 7 is a detail view mostly in elevation and partly in section taken approximately along the jogged line 7-7 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 8 is a detail section taken substantially along the line 8 8 of Fig. 1, and

Fig. 9 is a sectional detail taken longitudinally and medially through the magazine and showing the gate of the dispensing end thereof.

As shown in the drawings, the mechanism of my device is mounted on a suitable frame which, as shown, is in the form of a large horizontally disposed rectangular plate 11. The device illustrated is adapted to light and dispense cigarettes, although it will, of course, be apparent that by changing the proportions and details the invention is equally applicable for handling cigars.

At the forward portion of frame 11 an upstanding cigarette magazine l2 is suitably mounted having, as shown, an open upper end for entrance of cigarettes and a transparent front panel 13 through which the contents may be viewed. The lower end of magazine 12 is spaced a short distance above plate 11 and has a horizontal discharge opening through its forward wall which is provided with a suitable gate 14 hinged at its upper edge to the magazine. The rear wall at the lower end of the magazine is recessed horizontally at 12a to accommodate a reciprocable ejector 15 (see Fig. 3). Ejector 15 comprises an angularly bent plate disposed transversely of the magazine and affording a step for receiving the lowermost cigarette in the magazine and having at its forward edge a downwardly turned lip 15a, the corner of which is adapted to abut and swing gate 14. The plate 15 is secured to a suitable plunger 15b which is slidably journaled in an upstanding bracket 16 and which carries at its rear end a cam actuating head 15e.

The magazine proper is preferably detachable, comprising the parts 12 and 13 and having an open lower end whichtelescoped with the up- A .suction pump 17 is mounted on the rear of frame 11 havingits cylinder disposed longitudinally of. the frame and at right angles and perpendiculai` to the ejector. A suction socket 18 is swivelly mounted forwardly of and at one end of I magazine 12 and positioned to be aligned with an ejected cigarette when swung to have its axis disposed parallel to the ejector. Socket 18 has an inwardly tapered inner periphery and is rigidly carried by a vertical tubular element 18a revolubly mounted upon an upstanding post 19 fixed at its lower end to frame 11. Post 19 is provided with an axial passage 19a communicating through a radial port 19h with the inner end of socket 18. The lower end of passage 19a 'is connected by suitable conduits 20 and 21 with the rear end of the casing of pump 17. A filter y 22 for removing moisture laden with tobacco and nicotine is interposed between conduits 20 and 21 and, as shown, comprises a removable tube having disposed therein a suitable filler of porous absorbent material such as cotton batting, cellulose or other fibrous material. Conduit 21 is provided with a suitable valve 21a for regulating the suction applied to the filter tube 22. The tubular element 18a of suction socket 18 is provided with a rocker arm 18b which is connected by a link 23 with an arm 15d extended from one end of ejector 15 whereby the socket will be oscillated by reciprocation of the ejector.

Oppositely disposed to the suction socket 18 and adjacent the opposite end of the magazine is a swingable heating unit 24. As shown, this unit comprises a goose neck arm 24a pivotally mounted on a post 25 for swinging on a vertical axis. The outer end of arm 24a is provided with a head which carries a small insulator block 24h having mounted therein an electrical heating element 24e of such characteristics as to be rendered incandescent when energized. Suitable service wires 26 and 27 connect the terminals of heating element 24e with a resistance 28 and one of the terminals of an electrical switch 29 which, as shown, is of the spanning contact type. The second terminal of switch 29 is connected with one of the wires A in a conventional electrical cord and the second wire B of the cord is connected with `the input terminal of resistance 28.

Suitable mechanism for holding a discharged cigarette in proper alignment with socket 18 and heating unit 24 is provided at the forward side. As shown, this mechanism includes a pair of spaced, forwardly and horizontally extending supporting rod 30 secured at their rear ends to frame 1l and having working in cooperation therewith a pair of short upwardly swingable arms 31 xed to a rock shaft 32 suitably journaled below frame 1l. A torsion spring surrounds the medial portion of rock shaft 32 and has one of its ends aixed to the frame and its opposite end affixed to the rock shaft in such manner that the rock shaft is urged by torque force to normally swing arms 31 upwardly. A rocker cam 33 is also affixed to rock shaft' 32 and is positioned for engagement by a reciprocating followerA 34 which extends longitudinally of the pump cylinder 17 and is affixed to the pump operating mechanism.

The several operating elementspreviously de'- scribed, including the ejector, the alignment mechanism, the pump, the swingable suction socket and the swingable heating unit are all actuated and timed by mechanism associated with an actuating shaft 35 journaled transversely at the medial portion of frame 11.

The ejector 15 is actuated by means of a cam 36 iixedrto the left hand portion of shaft 35. Cam 36, as clearly shown in Fig. 3, has an angularly recessed portion which is adapted to receive the head 15o of the ejector. The peripheral edge of the cam is arcuate and disposed concentrically of shaft 35. Ejector 15 is urged to retracted position by means of a contractile spring 38, one end of which is connected with the head 15e and the other end of which is connected to a bracket at the rear of frame 11. It, therefore, will be seen that upon counter-clockwise movement of shaft 35, as shown in Fig. 3, the ejector will first be moved outwardly a distance substantially equal to the radius of member 36 and will be maintained in the extended position for a short time due to the engagement of the peripheral edge of the cam with the head. The turning of the shaftand cam in the opposite direction continues to maintain the ejector in the extended position until the head again engages the shoulder defining one edge of the recess. course, causes swinging of the air suction socket 18. Socket actuating arm 15d rigidly carries a rearwardly extending contact arm 37a which has at its outer end a depending spanning blade contact 37 which moves between the contacts of the switch 29 and is maintained in its 4closed position during the reciprocation of the ejector previously described.

Swingable heating unit 24 is actuated by means of a second cam 39 aixed to the medial portion of shaft 35 and formed, as shown in Fig. 7, in substantially semi-circular shape, the peripheral edge being concentric with shaft 35.

Cam 39 operates a lever 40 which is pivoted on f a vertical axis medially of frame 11 and which is urged against said cam by a spring 41. The outer end of lever 40 is connected by a rod 42 with a short arm 24d xed to the pivoted end of the goose neck arm 24a of the heating unit. The connection of rod 42 with arm 24d is such that a cushioning action is provided in the swinging movement of the heating unit and to this end the outer end of arm 24d surrounds the rod 42 and a coiled compression spring 42a is interposed between a suitable abutment on the medial portion of the rod and the arm 24d, and surrounds the forward portion of the rod. The forward extremity of rod 42 is headed to connect the rod with the yarm for return swinging movement. Cam 39 is so positioned on shaft 35 that the heater unit will not be actuated until after suction socket 18 has been swung into position to receive one end of the cigarette and until the ejector has been extended to remove the cigarette from the bottom of the magazine.

The piston of the pump is reciprocated by a rack and pinion mechanism associated with the actuating shaft 35 and to this end a ratchet wheel 43 is fixed to the medial portion of the Reciprocation of the ejector 15, of

shaft 35 and is meshed with an elongated rack 44 which is mounted insuitable slide guides secured to frame 11. The forward end of rack 44 is connected with a plunger 45 of the pump by a bracket or other suitable means 46. The reciprocating follower 34 for controlling the operation of the cigarette aligning mechanism is rigidly connected with the forward end of rack 44. The piston of the pump comprises a suitable pump leather having a lubricant-carrying disk 45a disposed iiush against the outer surface thereof and in the cupped portion. Disk 45a may be constructed of felt or other absorbent material adapted to hold lubricant.

In the form of my device illustrated, the shaft 35 is adapted to be manually turned in one direction to extreme position and to be automatically turnedy in the opposite or return direction and to this end the left end of shaft 35 is connected with a suitable clock spring 4'7 mounted in a spring case 48 which spring is, of course, tensioned by the manualturning of shaft 35 and which is so wound that it will reverse the revolution of the shaft when manual turning is discontinued.

To facilitate turning of shaft 35 a crank 49 is provided having a sleeve 49a which telescopes over the right hand end of shaft 35 and which is provided with a tooth 49h at its inner end having clutch engagement with a suitable pin 35a carried by the shaft. A crank handle 49C is axed to the outer` end of sleeve 49a.

A disk 50 is fixed to the sleeve 49m of the crank and carries a stop pin 50a which is adapted to abut a xed stop 51 to limit revolution of the shaft 35 in both clockwise and counter-clockwise directions. -The pin is represented, in dotted lines, in its extreme position when the handle has been turned manually, in Fig. 8.

In the drawings a suitable coin-controlled mechanism is shown associated with my device, although this feature, is, of course, elective.

As shown, the disk 50 is provided with one or more ratchet teeth 50h which are adapted to be engaged by a suitable pawl 52 pivoted to an upstanding bracket 53 in which the sleeve of the crank is journaled. Pawl 52 carries a forwardly and downwardly curved actuating arm 52a which has its end normally disposed in an upwardly extending coin chute 54 attached to the frame (see Figs. 1 and- 8). A coin dropped in the chute 54 engages the forward end of arm 52a swinging the pawl 52 upwardly and disengaging the ratchet teeth to permit crank 49 to be turned.

As shown, I have provided a contractile spring 55 connected at its forward end to the outer end of crank sleeve 49a to supply a torque force thereon which urges tooth 49h against the pin Operation In use, the magazine is, of course, charged with a plurality of cigarettes C which are disposed horizontally, one above the other and transversely of the magazine. Upon release of the coin-controlled mechanism the crank handle 49e is turned in a counter-clockwise direction to its limit of movement. The initial turning of the crank causes the ejector 15 to move forward with its associated mechanism and causes the pump piston to move in the opposite direction within the cylinder. The stepped portion of ejector 15 carries the lowermost cigarette in the magazine forwardly as the lip 15a at the forward end of the ejector swings open the -discharge gate 14. A cigarette is thus deposited upon the thrusting the same longitudinally and seating the opposite end into the socket with a cushioning action. An efficient sealed joint is formed between the left hand end of the cigarette and the suction socket due to the tapered or conical inner periphery of the socket and the thrust supplied by the head of the heating unit. Slmultaneously with the thrust of the cigarette irito the socket, the spanning contact 3'7 of the switch is thrown between the two first contacts closing the electric circuit through the incandescent element 24e.

Upon releasing the crank handle after it has been turned to extreme counter-clockwise position, the clock spring 47 rotates shaft 35 in the opposite or clockwise direction, thereby producing a suction stroke upon the piston of the pump, which suction is communicated to the socket 18 through the conduits 21 and 20 and through the filter 22. Air is thus drawn through the right hand end of the cigarette to which the incandescent heating element is applied, lighting the cigarette. conduit 20 .is ltered through the material within filter 22 and moisture containing tobacco and nicotine is removed and prevented from entering and damaging the pump structure.

In the return revolution of shaft 35 the heater unit is first actuated, returning to normal position and disengaging the then lighted end of the cigarette. Immediately thereafter ejector 15 is retracted, gate 14 is permitted to close ,through the action of Weight and the socket holding the left hand end of the cigarette is swung through substantially 90 degrees, positioning the lighted cigarette conveniently for removal. It will be noted that suction is applied to the cigarette throughout the outward swinging movement of socket 18 thereby assuring that the outer end or the cigarette will be lit when the same is removed for smoking.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that I have provided a comparatively simple and highly efficient machine for dispensing and lighting cigarettes, one at a time, and a machine which is readily adapted for vending lighted cigarettes,

It will, of course, be understood that various changes may be made in the form, details, proportions and arrangement of the parts, without departing from the scope of my invention, which generally stated, consists in a device capable of carrying out the objects above set forth and in the novel parts and combinations of parts disclosed and defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:-

1. A machine for lighting and dispensing cigarettes and the like having in combination, a swingably mounted suction socket adapted to receive one end of a cigarette, means for thrusting a cigarette into said socket to frictionally engage the same, means for applying an incandescent iilament to the opposite end of said cig- The smoke Withdrawn through arette, means for substantially simultaneously applying a source of air suction to said socket and means for swinging said socket and a cigarette frictionally retained therein to a position wherein said cigarette may be conveniently removed from said socket.

2. A machine for lighting and dispensing cigarettes and the like having in combination,.a swingably mounted suction socket adapted to receive one end of a cigarette in frictional engagement therewith, means for thrusting a cigarette into said socket, means for applying an incandescent filament to the opposite end of said cigarette, means for substantially simultaneously applying a source of air suction to said socket and means for swinging said socket and a cigarette frictionally retained therein to a position wherein said cigarette may be conveniently removed from said socket, the application of said source of air suction to said socket being maintained during-said swinging action.

3. A machine for dispensing and lighting cigarettes and the like having in combination, a magazine for holding a plurality of cigarettes, means for ejecting one cigarette at a time from said magazine, a swingably mounted suction socket mounted adjacent said magazine and adapted to receive one end of a cigarette to frictionally engage the same, means for thrusting an ejected cigarette into said socket to be frictionally engaged therein, means for applying an incandescent filament to the opposite end of said cigarette, means for substantially simultaneously applying a source of air suction to said socket and means actuated from said ejector for swinging said socket and a cigarette frictionally retained therein to a position wherein said cigarette may be conveniently removed from said socket.

4. A machine for lighting cigarettes and the like having in combination, a cigarette engaging suction head, suction producing means connected to said head, holding and aligning mechanism for positioning one end of a cigarette in alignment with said air suction head, a movable thrusting and heating member having a head for engaging one end of said cigarette, said head carrying an incandescent heating element, an actuating shaft having means for manually rotating the same, a spring arranged to yieldingly resist forward rotation of said yshaft and actuating connections respectively connecting said shaft to said suction producing means, said aligning mechanism and said thrusting and heating member whereby forward rotation of said shaft, while tensioning said spring and placing said suction producing means in position for subsequent operation to produce suction. will successively operate said aligning. mechanism and move said thrusting and heating member to engage said cigarette and thrust the same into engagement with said suction head and whereby said shaft. when released at the termination of forward rotation, will be reversely rotated by'said spring to successively operate said suction producing means and return said thrusting and heating member to its normal position.

5. A machinefor lighting cigarettes and the like having in combination, a cigarette engaging suction head, suction producing means connected to said head, holding and aligning mechanism for positioning one end of a cigarette in alignment with said'air suction head, a movable thrusting and heating member having a head for engaging one end of said cigarette, said head carrying an incandescent heating element, a rotary actuating element, a spring arranged to yieldingly resist forward rotation f said actuating element, and actuating connections respectively connecting said actuating element to said suction producing means, said aligning mechanism, and said movable thrusting and heating member, said actuating connections being so arranged that forward rotation of said actuating element will tension said spring and place said suction producing means in position ready to produce suction and will successively operate said aligning mechanism and move said thrusting and heating member to engage said cigarette and thrust the same into engagement with said suction head and release of said actuating element will permit said spring to reversely rotate the same to successively operate said suction producing means and return said thrusting and heating member to its normal position.

6. A machine for lighting and dispensing cigarettes and the like having in combination, a movably mounted suction socket adapted to receive and hold one end of a cigarette, means for thrusting one end of a cigarette into said socket to be held thereby, means for applying an incandescent lament to the remaining end of said cigarette, means for applying a source of suction to said socket and means for moving said socket whereby said cigarette will be shifted to a position wherein the same may be conveniently removed from said socket.

7. The structure defined in claim 6 and said suction supplying means being arranged -tc maintain the supply of suction to said socket during said movement of said socket.

ANTHONY J. EILER. 

